Film explores toxic friendship between two young women at a suburban French high school.

American audiences are most familiar with actress Mélanie Laurent for her work in films like “Now You See Me” and “Inglourious Basterds.” But in her native France, Laurent has emerged as an award-winning director. Her latest effort, “Breathe,” opens Friday at Cinemapolis.

This artful and disturbing film explores the toxic friendship between two young women, both seniors at a suburban French high school. Charlie (Joséphine Japy) is a fairly well-adjusted kid, despite a difficult home life: her parents, who had her as teenagers, have a rocky on-and-off relationship, and her mom is lonely and unhappy.

Charlie’s world gets more interesting when a new girl enrolls. Sarah (Lou de Laâge) is gorgeous and charming, dispensing sophisticated tales of her life abroad as the daughter of a foreign aid worker. Best of all, she takes an instant shine to Charlie, and the two become BFFs. Whether what ensues is passionate friendship or a thwarted romance is something that the film (based on a novel by Anne-Sophie Brasme) leaves ambiguous.

But before long, the relationship gets rocky. Sarah is egocentric, moody and quick to take offense; Charlie, on the other hand, seems obsessed with her, and their volatile relationship takes over her life. As Charlie grows more desperate for her approval, Sarah becomes increasingly cruel—clearly savoring the power she has over her floundering schoolmate. Not that Sarah is in any better shape, emotionally; it’s just that her issues take the form of sadism rather than masochism.

There’s a lovely, timeless quality to Laurent’s picture, which — if it weren’t for the occasional cell phone — feels in many ways like it could take place any time in the past half-century. Framing two strong performances by the lead actresses—both of whom were nominated for César awards, the French Oscars—Laurent and cinematographer Arnaud Potier create compositions that feel at once dreamy and frantic.

And come to think of it, that just about sums up adolescence—a time when every emotion is heightened, every heartbreak is a tragedy, and life seems to be both dragging along and hurtling by.

RATING:★★★

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